Characterisation and engineering properties of Troll Clay

The Troll site is underlain by a thick deposit of uniform marine clays and glacial tills. Though most of the work reported here was related to the development of a large CONDEEP concrete gravity structure, which at the time of its installation was the largest in the world, the ground conditions encountered apply across a wide area of the Norwegian Trench. Five soil units have been identified and the soil properties and engineering characteristics are consistent with their geological origin. Most emphasis is given to the upper two units, i.e. to about 74 m depth. A large range of tests were undertaken both in the laboratory, on good quality thin-walled piston or pushed samples, and in situ including CPT. The soil properties show good agreement with well – known correlations.